Did you know that about 50% of the oxygen in our atmosphere, that’s the oxygen in every second breath you take, is produced by phytoplankton in the sea?

We are a biological oceanography lab in the Department of Marine Sciences at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill that performs inquiry-based science by combining physiological and molecular approaches in laboratory isolates and natural communities to investigate how phytoplankton are affected by their environment and in turn, influence ocean biogeochemistry and ecosystem dynamics. Particular interests include studying trace metals, such as iron, that are essential for the nutrition of phytoplankton and predicting the effects of future climate changes on phytoplankton distribution and abundance.

To view a map of field sites where we are currently conducting our research, click here.